Only a Dream in Rio

Title: "Only a Dream in Rio"

Artist: James Taylor

Album: That's Why I'm Here



This song seems appropriate for the first James Taylor post on this blog. I had forgotten how much I love it. The last time I heard this song was when I was eight on my family's many long car-rides up to Vermont. I used to make my mom play it every trip. Now that I found it again, it's brought back wonderful memories. For those of you not into the "old-school" stuff, James Taylor came into the picture in the early seventies. He's been continuely popular with the adults of that generation, like my mom and dad, but most teenagers don't know about him. I think it's a shame. His music has more soul and power to them than anyone elses. This song, for example, is the type of song that makes the heart clench up and the spirit soar. No one else can make music like him. If I had to thank my parents for one thing that they've ever done for me, it would be introducing me to James Taylor at a young age. My love for his music has never faded, and I can say with certainty, never will.

Download "Only a Dream in Rio": http://rapidshare.de/files/33340582/Only_A_Dream_In_Rio.mp3.html

Ballerina

Title: "Ballerina"

Artist: OLIVIA

Album: Into the Stars single


Welp, I was thinking about it the other day, and I realized I've had this blog up for a good 3 months now. Might as well start posting some stuff that's really special to me. I'll mention before anything that OLIVIA has remained at a constant number one on my "top solo artists" list. I've never come across any other performing artist that can satisfy my hunger for the weird and the different quite like her. That being said, "Ballerina" was the first song I ever heard from her, so it seems appropriate for it to be up here.

OLIVIA was born in Okinawa, Japan and still lives there today. Her mother is Japanese and her father is German/American, thus results her fluency in both languages. OLIVIA started her singing career in the group D&D, made up of three girls. She was the lead singer. She disbanded from them in 1998 and has been writing her own songs and music ever since. Her style can go from punk-rockish to mellow-ambient. Her first album, Synchronicity, is proof of this. Though all music from OLIVIA is good, and she's had more than 8 singles, there are a few that truely stick out. "Ballerina" is one of them. Since the moment I heard this song back in 2003, it has remained my favorite piece of music ever since. The way she mixes different instruments is amazing. It really captures the mood the song is trying to portray. It's horrifying and sad, dark and haunting, with beautiful and strange cellos and violins. If you listen closely at the end, you can hear an electric guitar, however deformed the sound may be. This was the song that made me fall in love with OLIVIA, and it will always be the song that keeps me in love with her. It is, quite simply, the shit.

Download "Ballerina":http://rapidshare.de/files/33013888/Ballerina.mp3.html

Cold Wind

Title: "Cold Wind"

Artist: The Arcade Fire

Album: SFU Everything Ends


I don't know much about The Arcade Fire, only that the band is made up of seven people, mostly related in some aspect, and are located in Montreal. The first time I heard them was while watching a show I'm sure everyone is familiar with, Six Feet Under. This song was featured on volume 2 of the T.V soundtrack, but I'm not sure if it's avalible on any of the bands cds. This song is terribly morbid. It's depressing beyond words and almost makes you want to close your eyes and never open them again. It takes you too a world of pain and apathy, a world where everything is gray and melancholy in some way. The Arcade Fire is a great example of a band that can capture emotion. You can really feel the cold wind on your shoulders.

Download "Cold Wind": http://rapidshare.de/files/32574832/The_Arcade_Fire_-_Cold_Wind.mp3.html

Chinsagu No Hana

Title: "Chinsagu no Hana"

Artist: Elizabeth Drake

Album: Japanese Story OST


I know the title means "Flower of _______", and if someone could fill in the rest I'd be very greatful. It might do good to know that Elizabeth Drake only composed all the music, there is another woman singing this song, though I have no idea what her name is. Again, any information would be appreciated. This seems like an appropriate song to post, considering it was nomited for best score. It truely deserves it. This was the theme and love song from the movie. The movie itself was beautiful and tragic, so this type of music fits in nicely. It repeats the same notes on a shamisen and eventually is joined with some violins. Keep in mind, it takes about three minutes for the vocals to come in. The movie in itself was very interesting, and I enjoyed how they used a Japanese theme for a movie that was filmed no where near Japan. It creates an underlying beauty, and the song is symbolism. After all, the movie is about an Australian woman who falls in love with a Japanese man. It proves love looks beyond race, and you feel that beauty through the song.

UPDATE! Upon request, this file has been re-uploaded.

Download "Chinsagu no Hana": http://rapidshare.com/files/50252219/Elizabeth_Drake_Chinsagu_No_Hana.mp3.html

Music Is My Hot, Hot Sex

Title: "Music is my hot, hot sex"

Artist: CSS

Album: Cansei De Ser Sexy


I literally just found out about these guys last week. I was reading a dated Time magazine and found an article about them describing a concert they did in the area. CSS is a Brazillian punk/electronic band. The music and the beats are catchy and fun, but what I like most is their choice of lyrics. Their lyrics are, for the most part, strange and very inappropriate, which obviously they did on purpose. Their intense style makes for an enjoyable listen. This song is my favorite off their debut album.

Download "Music is my hot, hot sex": http://rapidshare.de/files/30505642/10_Music_Is_My_Hot__Hot_Sex.mp3.html

taste the fish

I'll be uploading a new song everyday. What I hope to accomplish with this blog is to introduce people to many different types of music. There is a wide variety here; chances are you'll find something you like. And by some freak chance you don't..... well..... um, let's hope it won't come to that.....